You are right, but late! Sorry, let me be rude enough to say that you are late my dear friend! Wisdom is knowing before experiencing! At least guessing before experiencing!

When we were criticizing about the unlimited(apparently unlimited) freedom in the West and its disadvantages, some people used to call us retro, undeveloped or things like that. Human beings are social creatures, so absolute freedom sounds ridiculous. An individual can be free as long as their freedom doesn't threaten my freedom. However, we are selfish. What can control my selfishness, greed and ambitiousness? You may say, 'laws', but who makes laws? People, yes, but what will happen if some selfish people make laws? This is one of the main drawbacks of the unrestricted(absolute) freedom.

I called it 'absolute freedom', but fact is something else. As a matter of fact, there is no freedom in the West? How? Well, when some singers, actors, actresses, fashion designers, football players, companies etc. keep telling us: This is what you like. This is what you must be like. This is what you look for. This is where you should go. This is what you should do. This is what you should wear, eat, ..." only brainwashed people believe that they are free! Nobody is free when thousands TV channels are continuously bombarding people with signals(forcing people to do in accordance with what is showed)! In fact, satellite TV channels make decision about our lives! When we are not allowed to think, without being biased towards something, it is slavery in a modern shape, not freedom!

That's absolutely right my dear friend, 'freedom is a two-edged sword', but I am sorry to say that 'you are late'! Many years ago, when we were warning the West over those disadvantages of materialist philosophy, some people used to laugh at us and call us black-haired, retro, unimproved, narrow-minded and things sort that! Wisdom is prevention from a tragedy, taking guess about the probable rain by looking at the cloudy sky and then taking umbrella! After getting wet under the rain, although looking for an umbrella sounds reasonable and logical, it is late!

What is the solution then? I have no time to write about the solution now. I have to leave. But, to say briefly, I believe, what human beings need for a good life(good life is moving towards perfection) is said by God(the creator of the entire universe) in the Holy books. The path is shown clearly and brightly. We have to practically follow God's instructions if we want a good life with good results. Otherwise, we will lose!

Hope your studies are going well. One of the most enjoyable things in the life is to understand and learn, when it comes to learning Physics the sweetness doubles. Enjoy it dear.

Thanks for your rich post above. I loved it. You have beautifully explained some delicate issues:

Human beings are social creatures, so absolute freedom sounds ridiculous. An individual can be free as long as their freedom doesn't threaten my freedom. However, we are selfish. What can control my selfishness, greed and ambitiousness? You may say, 'laws', but who makes laws? People, yes, but what will happen if some selfish people make laws? This is one of the main drawbacks of the unrestricted(absolute) freedom.

You are absolutely right. It's not a very difficult thing to understand, I wonder how some people ignore this point and want absolute freedom and claim it's their own right!!!

Today is the last day of the autumn. It is the shortest day of the year, so tonight is the longest one in the year (Simple mathematics is used here, since 'Daytime+Nighttime=24'! When the first one comes down, the second one must go up! Hehehehehehe... )

Iranian people call the last night of fall 'Yalda Night'! They usually sit around, eat dry nuts and fruits(To speak precisely, it is better to say 'they used to sit around and... These days mobile phones and computers don't leave free time for people to sit around together!').

You can notice that 'Yalda Night' is celebrated in some countries around Iran such as Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, etc. too. Well, in the past those countries used to belong to Iran. This means that 'Yalda Night' is an ancient traditional ceremony.

I'd like to take this opportunity to say a very warm 'Happy Yalda Night' to all Persian people! I wish you happy moments with your families. The weather is cold(the mountains and the shades are covered with snow in this part of Tehran), but I wish you warmness and long life.

I'd like to mention to a very nice saying in Farsi which is related to the last day of autumn. When some people make promise, or speak proudly about their plans and great success in the future, or when they are happy and satisfied with their short-term success, people often say 'chicks must be counted in the end of autumn'! It is maybe a little bit similar to 'don't count your chickens before they're hatched'! I am not sure!

Anyway, I hope today you have counted your chickens and have found out that you've got many of them; none of them is eaten by fox, none of them is killed by other enemies.

Finally, I'd like to say a warm 'Hello' to my dearest old friend Kami! How are you Kamelia? I hope you are happy and healthy. Thank you very much for visiting this site on such a lovely day. Happy 'Yalda Night' to you and to your family. You made me happy with your post! Thank you very much indeed. Kami is always in my thoughts!

Oh, something has been forgotten yet! Today(tonight in fact, according to what my mother says! "It was 'Yalda Night' and the weather was cold. People were together, but I was in a hospital to give birth to Behnam, and I did it!", my mother often says! LOL...) is my birthday. Happy Birthday Behnam!

Congratulations on Yalda night,This is longest night Iranian solar year. Yalda Night as called in the Persian solar calendar is a night with especial ceremonies. Families get together on Yalda Night at the home of the elders until after midnight. They are served with dried fruits, nuts, and fruits like pomegranates and watermelons. I had to come back home from my father in law-house because of my terrible stomachache ..

First of all... Happy "Yalda" night to all andI hope it will be lovely worm peaceful night.Second of all.. Happy birthday older brotherBehnam and I hope to achieve all your goals.Third of all I mess you all and God bliss you.

I think that if our imagination came true, that will make us happy but it's although depends on the ability of this imagination to be realty.
Some of our dreams are so big and hart to be achieved because of our society or Riches or potentials, but some of our dreams are in hands if we seek to achieve them.
There is no imagination can be real without work on, as we work we achieve and this is the golden rule here.
I hope my opinion could be useful and convincing.

What a nice question you have asked! Why many things can just happen in our imagination???

I actually wanna thank you. Your post made me sit here and make a lovely dream!
I had seen a mail full of pictures from winter and snow; reading your post I just imagined it has snowed here as well,and I went walking outdoors.... something very sweet happened there! What? Emmmm, oh sorry, you're not allowed there! It's secret!

What a great blessing it is, to dream! You can experience many impossible things there. I love it, oh, I love it. I live with it! Thank god, thank god........

Maybe things are even much better in reality! Who knows? Let's be positive!
I often imagine myself meeting my dear friends whom I've never seen.It makes me very happy. One of my dreams is to meet Amal and take part in her wedding ceremony! I'm sure it would be as sweet as my imagination, no doubt!

I'm just worried about sth. Is it wrong to live with dreams? Can it harm??? Emmmm...

In my opinion, if our imagination come true, that wont make us happier because I think that no matter how big our imagination was but it still narrow and our knowledge is naive.. I believe that what god choose for us is the best and for sure god knowledge is very wide.

Sometimes, we go through a lot of bad thing " as we callit or imagine" but in fact they aren't.
Sometimes god prevents something "we wish or we want" just to give us something more beautiful, a lesson or to test our faith.

Eli! Ohh my god, imagine that you came to my wedding party.. Ohh, what a disaster it would happened!
I would forget all about the groom, the people there and the party and sit and speak with you.

Anyway, I would be very happy if you came to my wedding party!!! it would be the best and happier day in my life.

Ohhhh!!!!!! I wanttttt to marry!!! I wanttt a maaaan any maaaan, Please please god please send a man to me cause I miss Elham and I am dying to meet her!!!!!!!

Kidding a side, you know, dear, if I really want to get married this is because I want you to be happy and because someone had promised me to dance in my wedding day!!! Ohh, I was verrry happy when I heard that, what would happened to me if it became a reality?!! Imagine that!!!
I really want you to be happy..

In the end, I wish your life is more beautiful than what you have ever imagined and dreamed!

How is it going? I hope all is going well with you. Unfortunately, I am busy with books these days. I am studying hard. I go to bed at about 24 almost every night. I never watch TV. I just check my mailbox and reply to some emails in case I am in the mood or have time. I love writing about your topic-imagination. That's an interesting topic. Alas, I cannot(and don't want actually) to switch from Quantum Mechanics into imagination!

Today I studied chapter 4 of 'Modern Quantum Mechanics' by J.J Sakurai. It concerns 'Symmetry in Quantum Mechanics'. This night(after posting this post) I am studying chapter 5 which is about 'Approximation Methods'. Actually, this chapter is mostly about 'Perturbation Theory'.

Please search the Net for that book and take a glance at it; just to see what I am studying these days.

It is not fair to stay silent when a good friend has introduced a topic for discussion. According to Albert Einstein, "Imagination is more important than knowledge...". Yes, it is, but it cannot be true for all people! A hungry person will imagine eating some delicious food and fresh fruits! Girls often fantasize about their future life and imaginary husband...! Children usually dream about things that they wish to have. However, I guess Einstein means scientists, researchers, designers, or people who are involved in brain-based things. Anyway, sometimes imagination gives us hope and encourages us; makes us determined in achieving our goals. That's positive side of it!

The world would be funny if our imagination comes true. Right know, I am imagining something, or imagining doing something...Oh, let's forget it!

How are you? I hope all is going well with you. I've missed you very much.

It is Thursday, and a religious holiday in Iran. I was studying, but got tired of it. I came here to write something and to take some rest AND then to do some relaxation! I need it, you know, studying continuously makes the brain tired.

Last night, a very kind friend of mine sent me a message and wanted me to get online and have some chat. I did it. After about one month, it was a great chat-a tiredness removing one!

Let me speak about my schedule. Until 8th of January, I will study 'Advanced Quantum Mechanics'. I am studying last chapters which are extremely difficult. Last two chapters are about 'Identical Particles' and 'Scattering Theory'. These chapters, especially the latter one, are very difficult. Anyway, I have to finish this subject by 8th of January.

From 8th of January to 8th of February, I am studying 'Classical Electrodynamics' by Jakson. This subject is complicated too, but I am rather good at it. In the world of Physics 'Classical Electrodynamics' by Jakson and 'Advanced Quantum Mechanics' by Sakurai are well-known. You can easily find them on the Net. These books are taught-as text books- at many universities in the world.

From 8th of February to 7th of March, I am studying 'Modern Physics' which is simple(one week time is enough for this subject) and revising 'Quantum Mechanics'! Finally, on Friday, 8th of March, I am sitting for the most important exam in my life. Please pray for me.

You should know, the exam consists five modules, 'Professional English', 'Educational talent(intelligence)', 'Quantum Mechanics', 'Electrodynamics' and 'Modern Physics'. You should also know, I am going to study 'Photonics', which is a branch in Applied Physics. Candidates who are going to study Physics have 'Statistical Mechanics' instead of 'Modern Physics'. Other modules are the same. I don't study the first two subjects! I have no plan for them. Hehehe...

I guess, according to the last year leaflet published by the relevant organization, 30 people will be allowed to study 'Photonics'! This course is held Only at a few universities in Iran. Therefore, it is a stiff competition for candidates. It should be said that the exam covers 50 percent of the total score. The verbal interview specifies half of the total score. Some people believe that the interview specifies total score! They say, "Professors who are interviewing give good marks to their favourite candidates"! This is not fair, but who cares?

Unfortunately, the university that I've received my MSc degree-Sharif University of Technology- doesn't hold my chosen course-Photonics. Therefore, I have little chance to be accepted by interviewers at other universities(Four Universities in all over Iran). However, I am a determined person. I never let negative thoughts and false assumptions hinder me from trying. If I put my mind to something, I finish it. Nothing can stop me! Oh Oh Oh!

Dear friends, let me digress for a moment. I wanted to write "I am an experienced Physics student.' rather than 'I am a determined person'! However, the first sentence seems odd. A student cannot be experienced. Teachers can be experienced, but students cannot. Students are better to be described by some adjectives like 'studious', 'hardworking', ...!

My wife is calling me for lunch. I have to dash quickly. Sorry for making mistakes.

Hi, I have started few minutes ago, and I don't know how it works.. My name is Estela and I am Engilsh studient from Spain.. I think that in this moment there aren't somebody here... ei???
Ah.. I like summer as season....

Oh.. it's very fast.. .guau, you are a machine so fast when you write,it's wonderful.. yes, the contrast is great because you can compare what you like more or less, so depens sometimes of day and you emotion in each case, ... about God, I think the own experience does that you feel his presence or maybe not.. but I think that have to be anything more... but sometimes I don't know how talk you... did you have any experience like? thanks for your fantastic words!!

Thanks Behnam, I have found out this quote and I think that it's answer with last text.. it's ok..

I am an student, my English is terrible, but thanks for your words, I am proud.. , about the seasons, I have every seasons, and maybe for this reason I prefer one, only my opinion in this moment... about people unknow the 4 seasons... maybe they talk us about avaintages about having only one season.. I don't know, maybe a skimal thinks that other people is happier because enjoy of more stations? I don't know..I think that it's great that you like every seasons, it shows a nice sense, because you enjoy sun, win, rain, in each season.. I enjoy it too, but I have nice remimber (I don't know how write it... Sorry) in Summer...And yes, for me it's impossible living without 4 seasons... how I won't be able witout birds, ...English is hard for me.. apologies for my mistakes...

Elisa wrote:Dear Behnam,
your answer is so special and complete that you make me so unconfortable.Your English is too good.
Every answer will be banal!
Anyway....I like all seasons because everyone of them has something special in colours and smells.

Sometimes I think how is living in the tropics where we cannot enjoy of the 4 seasons.

Do you think it is possible to realise the passing of the years without seasons?

How are you my determined hard-working friend? Hope you and your family are healthy and happy, spending a warm winter.

Thanks for your report on your schedule. It's so nice that you are busy with such great and sweet Physics lessons. Just enjoy it. Being busy with the world of the science is enjoyable, specially when you are wise and love your major that much ! Hope you success*

Emmm, I'm afraid to say I don't agree with you on " experienced student" !!! If a teacher can be experienced in teaching, a student can also be experienced in studying!!! For example an English student who's been studying English for 10 years, could certainly be called 'experienced' in comparison to the one who's just started his courses! After 10 years being involved in learning English, now he is experienced; he knows how to study English, how to use dictionary, how to memorize a new word, how to practice,what to expect from the teacher, what is more important to learn, what is things he needs to be careful about while speaking and writing, he is more careful about the grammar, he has been with English for a long time so less and more he is familiar with this language, he has applied it in his life and has experience using it and so on!
I think these are good reasons for being called an experienced student!

I call myself an experienced English student and I believe it dose make sense.

Many thanks for your great posts. I read your last post carefully and I believe you are experienced in English. You know how to use what you know from English VERY well. Well done*

Many thanks for your post. I really enjoyed reading it. Thank you once again for your positive words.

I used to care about English, but these days I am studying some subjects which are related to my field of study. Therefore, I am forgetting English little by little, AND I don't care! I really don't care!

Undoubtedly, 'I am an experienced English student' makes sense, and people understand what is meant by that. However, it is not beautiful! I personally see some beauty in English correct structures and sentences. I seldom memorize grammar. At high school, for instance, I used to use this method(looking for a sort of beauty in a sentence) and answer grammar-based questions. Most of the time, I was right. Well, my marks(results) can be the clearest evidence of what I am claiming. I was a successful student when it came to the English language.

For an interviewer, it is not difficult to know our English level. As soon as we open our mouth and say something, they realise which level we are at. In order to give some information about our English activities we can say, "I have been learning English for 10 years"! Or we can say, "I have taken part in some English courses in such and such institute..." I am sure, you know much better than me how to handle an interview.

According to a Persian poem, "Cho bini na bina o chah ast, agar khamush benshini gonah ast". I reacted, maybe unkindly, to 'I am an experience..", because, I believe this sentence isn't beautiful, although it makes sense. This sentence seemed odd to my brain, and it automatically and unwillingly looked for some mistakes in the sentence. Strangely, my brain found the pronunciation wrong and the structure unusual. You can ask, "why did your brain look for some mistakes instead of looking for some positive things?" I don't know, but I guess it was just because of the situation.

I received some unkindness and insult after this correction! However, you should know, I still believe that there is something wrong with 'I am an experienced English student'! I do believe that you treated me unfairly! I wish I could 'put some watermelon under your armpit' by praising and admiring you for using that sentence[not for getting some benefits from you since all people know that I never look for someone's benefits] in order to be far from this injured feelings. I wish I could be silent, without any judgement, although in many cases silence leads to disloyalty in friendship! I made a very big mistake, but got some useful lessons! That's OK!

I'm really shocked by your post and words!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Insult and unkindness????????????????????? For what??????????? For correcting a simple mistake? Just for correcting a wrong pronunciation?????????????????? Oh my god!!!!!!!!! Who believes so?????????

I really don't understand what you mean! Your post clearly shows that there is a BIG MISUNDERSTANDING! I'm so sorry to hear such words by you!

Who believes that Elham would be unkind and insult just for his friend has correct her mistake???? It's so unfair of you to think and say so. You made me really upset.

"it's been said that everlasting friends go long periods of time without speaking and never question their friendship. These friends pick up phones like they just spoke yesterday, regardless of how long it has been or how far away they live, and they don't hold grudges. They understand that life is busy and you will always love them." -from the net-

Behnam, I know that you love me and I know that you are busy but I just miss you..

How are you? I hope you are happy and healthy; enjoying every minute of your life. So many thanks for your kind posts. I've missed you too. Silence or being out of sight doesn't mean that you are forgotten by me. You are always in my thoughts. So sorry that I am too busy to be punctual as I used to be. This won't last more than two months. I promise, in March, the situation will be ordinary as it was.

Thank you once again for your email. It wasn't exactly true, but something like that. Got it? I hope so!

No Behnam, I didn't get it since I am not as smart as you are and physics and the law of the possibilities aren't my favourite subjects..

Anyway, the wrong is the last letter?! The whole name?! OR I should give up trying?! For you, I am sure that it is the last one, but NO please tell me, I really want to know, I don't want to do anything with it but I just want to check if the program is working!!!

Emm, till March?! Emmm, if you find me alive till that time, then it's OK, come and chat with me. You willlllllllll killllllllllll me sooooooooooooooooooon.

That's nice reading from you. Thank you very much for writing in this thread. Please write more about yourself. I like reading about you.

By the way, your English is very good. Don't underestimate yourself. Oh, would you please write something about the philosophy 'showing red rags to bulls' in your country? Why do people like that dangerous game? I see your festivals different from other regions. Why?

Dear when we chat last time we were speaking about something very important and I was tired so I didn't tell you about my news... In fact, I am working as a teacher these days!!!!!!!!!!

Last week my uncle told me that a manager of a school wants some teachers to work there so I went and met her.. During the meeting she asked me if I had free time then she continued that why don't you start today and try if you liked the job or not and in this way we too can see if you are appropriate for the it or not. I was verrrrrrrry surprised cause I knew nothing about the subjects or the classes which I had to teach but I hesitantly agreed...

So, she let me teach math for fourth grade students... they were very smart and I didn't had any difficulties with teaching them but there was a student who is verrry active and if you didn't make him busy with solving things, he would do a loooooot of noises. At the beginning, I didn't know how to focus on teaching other students and keeping him busy all the time too. On the other hand, there was another student called "Yaman" who was very calm and love to study,In fact I haven't seen any conscious, interested and dedicated kid as much as he is!

After I finished the lesson, I didn't know if they will hire me or not.. All what I had to do is to wait till the next day and wait there call..

The next day when I entered the institute, Yaman and Omar were having a class but they saw me and you can't imagine how happy they were, a big smile were on their faces, we started to wave to each other and I asked them about their previous ecxams results and thank god they had full marks!
To say the truth, at that moment, I didn't know who was happier, me or them, I was glad that they remembered me and were happy to see me again.. My heart was really beating verrrrry fast, I wished I can hug and kiss them...
However, my mom said to me " Amal! don't act like a kid and don't smile a lot, let them respect and fear you!!!"
So I tried to hide my happiness and act like old people. But it seems that it doesn't work cause I don't know who the kid is me or them!

Ohhh my god!!! I am in love with those kids and I miss them a looooooot!!! Ohh my god!! They are like angels, in the lessons I just sit and stare at their eyes!!!

Today, I didn't teach them cause the manager wants me to give math lessons to a boy in the 8th grade cause he has exam tomorrow but in reality my heart was with them. I wish I could teach them forever!

Dear, I don't know if they wants me to work there just during the exams weeks or to stay even after them but I am trying to enjoy and learn from this experience as much as I can!

Another thing came to my mind while watching the other married teachers is that how can they manage their time and not be sooo tired from the job. Meanwhile, I -as a single girl- who has no husband nor children to take care of and doesn't have to clean or cook, find it an exhausting job??!!!

I was really sad for their children cause they ignored them and gave their full attention to the students!!!

So finally, I came to a conclusion, if I got married, I would like to spend that time at my home and try to teach my own children instead of teaching others', no matter how that cost!!!

In the end, sorry if I talked a loooooooot but you know that I love to share my news with you.
Please pray for me.

WOW! I'm writing to a kind teacher now! Oh my God! I cannot believe it! Congratulations on this great success! You deserve it Amal. You can be a very effective and successful teacher. I am so happy about it and so proud of you.

Please write about your new experience to us. I am sure, everyday you are experiencing a new thing in this job. Thankfully, the students are young. Therefore, the love between you and your students is safe.

Love is more dangerous than a hungry lion! Don't trust it at all. It may seem silence and quiet at the first glance, but all of a sudden it may jump over and kill victims. No matter how large or powerful an animal is. Lions know how to beat them!

What I read in your last post it's made me so happy for you. Go on dear and may God bliss you, protect you, and lead you to the right direction.
From my experience I advice you to balance between seriousness and passion with the students specially the boys because this generation is older than it's age.

How are you? I hope you are happy and healthy. I've missed you terribly.

Thank you for your posts. I guess you are reading a book these days, and you are only interested in odd pages! There are even pages too. Don't ignore them! Hehehehehehehe....

You cannot imagine how much I've missed you and other friends. Unfortunately, I am busy with studying for exam these days. I don't spend time with my friends as I used to do. I have to study harder, since many subjects are still left. By the way, I keep forgetting things. I think I am getting old! I have to revise the studied books. However, I will be back. I'm sure, the spring will come and the nightingale will sing again. Stay with me, be patient. I'm sure, happy days will come! Crying.....

I have got many things to share with you. However, I am not in the mood for writing. On the other hand, time is my biggest enemy these days. I spend almost all my free time on challenging with difficult subjects in books! It is too difficult to cope with problems in different areas in life. I am sure you know it yourself. Those difficulties prevent you from concentrating on studying. I don't know how to say it in a simple way. It is like fighting in many battles. When your attention, ability and energy are unwillingly divided you cannot win or achieve your goals.

Goals are like vectors in the vector-space. They have different direction. When setting our goals, we must be careful with the direction of them. Sometimes, goals are in the same direction, or the angle between them is small. Therefore, adding them results in a larger vector. However, sometimes goals are ill-oriented. They cancel each other. Adding them may result in a smaller vector or even nothing!

If we consider people as vectors in the vector-space, we can get some interesting results by studying these vectors with applying basic maths. For example, making friends with someone is like adding two vectors with each other. What is the result? Adding two vectors gives a vector which can be smaller, larger than both of them or even zero! The size of the result depends on the sizes of two vectors and COSINE of the angle between them! This cosine is extremely important! It can be zero, positive and negative.

Friendship among people is quite similar to the relationship between vectors. It is worth spending some time on vectors!

Sometimes, phase difference between two system can be described by that angle. In fact, that angle causes two systems to be either in phase or out of phase with each other. I think you got the point.

Surely, people are different from vectors. Undoubtedly, human beings are much more complicated than some abstract ideas. However, in many cases, making an analogy helps. At least, it simplifies problems.

In the world of human beings, what that angle is; which the effective parameters are, and how those parameters evolve! This is another story. I may write something about it in the future.

I loved your comparison between friends and vectors. Yeah my dear, you can see or find or use maths every ware. Me as a mathematician, I agree with all what you said.
In talking about forgetting things, It's because of physical or psychological stress and I suffer from this issue. We have to focus on what we are studding and ignore other things.
I pray to God for you and all my dear friends to achieve your goals and be happy so don't forget me from your prays please.

About five years ago, I downloaded and read the following poem. At that time I took something from it, but today I read it again. I feel this time I understand it better than before. This poem should be memorized by everybody. I am sharing it with my friends through email, thread, .... I hope you will enjoy reading it. It is really worth spending some time on memorizing this poem.

All the best,
Behnam, 21 January, 2013

********************************************

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but
shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but
have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller
families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less
sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems,
more medicine, but less wellness.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too
much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a
living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've
been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street
to meet a new neighbour. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've
done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but
polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write
more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to
rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to
produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods, and slow digestion, big men and small
character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of
two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are
days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night
stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to
quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and
nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to
you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just
hit delete.

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going
to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to
you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your
side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is
the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but
most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from
deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for
someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to
speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

If I can choose a little to this amazing poem it will be "The last time - آخر الزمان".
Thanks allot to share this masterpiece with us. Please share with us more and more like this.
I will post the poem in "English Garden" page on Facebook if you don't prevent that.https://www.facebook.com/EnglishGarden.AW

How are you my dear fried and young brother? I hope all is going well with you and you are enjoying every minute of your life.

I am happy that the poem has made you think about a proper tittle. Yes, I agree with you. "Last Time" is a nice name; meaningful and in agreement with our religious belief about life at the end of the history of humanity.

Wilzin, it is very nice to read your posts. Please write more about yourself. As you may know, I am studying for my PhD exam. I am busy with books these days. That's why I am not as active as I used to be. However, this time will come to end. I will join you soon. Please keep this little candle's flame burning.

How are you my old friend? I hope you are happy and healthy. Where are you? I've missed you and your posts. I am also worried about you. I hope all is going well with you and your family. Please write something in the thread. I am waiting for your reply.

In short:
- I'm 26 years old,
- from Damascus-Syria,
- my real name is Wael,
- studding maths at the university,
- Innovate a new type of cars I called "425",
- have many projects on electric and hybrid cars,
- have Koranic studies and interest in reading researches.
- an articles editor supervisor in many national Syrian pages on Facebook,
- have many political articles published in many pages on Facebook and other sites,

I hope you pass your PhD exam with high marks, and be shore that we always proud of you my dear. Have an excellent studding and nice days.

Hope you are all fine and happy, enjoying your lives. Although I'm not missed by anybody here, I miss you and writing in my beloved forum.

These days, I'm busy with some projects in university, I go to English class and try different recipes at home. Seems I've found one of my most favorite activities in life,I love cooking. Sometimes family members give me hope and say " Wow, you would be a skillful cook", sometimes they make me disappointed saying "oh, never cook this again"! It's just the first steps, I have to keep on trying again and again to make a good chef.Practice makes perfect.YES.
Emmm, I know there's somebody here who will say " Hehehe, try but a Fars woman never can cook like an Azerbaijani woman." ! Okkkkkkk, I know, you are right, I agree!

It's so soon but I can smell spring today.However, I'm not happy with it!An unexpected spring ,before smelling winter fully, is not pleasant. To me, winter means snow and it's two years that from winter I just experience it's coldness. Do you think it's too late for a snow fall? Do you think it's too optimistic of me to hope for it now?
NO NO, I don't lose my hope, I need it. I need some snow fall, some healing snow fall! Some heart-warming snow fall! Some heart-some snow fall! I'll pray for it, like children I keep my fingers crossed for it and ask god to send some snow down just for me, why not?

Sometimes I wonder why I don't pray as much as I used to before!!! Isn't it beautiful to keep your request hands up and hopefully pray for what you really need, when you know there's somebody sooooooooo kind up there hearing you, the one who's able to do every every every thing?
There are two things I love the most among things a human can do; loving and praying! Ok ok....

I read sth about praying, I'm going to share it with you.

PRAY

- If you don’t believe in prayers, then ask somebody to pray for you. You don’t have to be a too religious person to pray. Nobody needs to know that you are praying. It is a relationship between you and our heavenly Father. Express yourself. Say it through prayer. A prayer should always be our first recourse rather than our last resort.

If you feel that two of your friends are fighting over something . . . so Pray

If you feel that you hate your friend because he has betrayed you . . . so Pray.

If you feel that your relationship has been strained because of harsh words . . . so Pray

If you feel that you hate your mom because she favors your other siblings over you . . . so Pray

If you feel that you hate your boss because he is too strict and shouts often . . . so Pray

If you feel that your fiancée or husband is cheating over you . . . so Pray

If you feel that you were hurt . . . so Pray

A bible verse in Philippians 4:6 says “In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Nothing is more powerful than a sincere prayer to mend a broken relationship.

For all those times you stood by me ♥
For all the truth that you made me see ♥
For all the joy you brought to my life ♥
For all the wrong that you made right ♥
For every dream you made come true ♥
For all the love I found in you ♥
I'll be forever thankful ♥
You're the one who held me up ♥
Never let me fall ♥
You're the one who saw me through through it all ♥

You were my strength when I was weak ♥
You were my voice when I couldn't speak ♥
You were my eyes when I couldn't see ♥
You saw the best there was in me ♥
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach ♥
You gave me faith 'coz you believed ♥
I'm everything I am ♥
Because you loved me ♥
You gave me wings and made me fly ♥
You touched my hand I could touch the sky ♥
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me ♥
You said no star was out of reach ♥
You stood by me and I stood tall ♥
I had your love I had it all ♥
I'm grateful for each day you gave me ♥
Maybe I don't know that much ♥
But I know this much is true ♥
I was blessed because I was loved by you ♥

You were always there for me ♥
The tender wind that carried me ♥
A light in the dark shining your love into my life ♥
You've been my inspiration ♥
Through the lies you were the truth ♥
My world is a better place because of you ♥

I'm everything I am ♥

Because you loved me ♥

Thanks for being my friend.. My great friend and for sure you know yourself.

Ohhhhhhh Eliiiiiii!!!! Of course there are a looooooooooooooooot of people who miss you "including me"!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow! You are learning how to cook, this is good for you!! Your husband will be lucky, not like mine.
Anyway, I wish I could try Iranian food one day. " inshallah"

Dear, these days it's getting warmer, I don't know why and maybe it's late to ask for snow from god but I will pray for that with you and ask our lovely god to send some snow to your country.

As you know, it snowed here in Syria and that was great! I enjoyed it a lot. Although, I was too worried about the people who left their homes and went to parks, for those who are in living in tents in the border and those who have nothing to keep them warm. Poor them.
May god help them and give them the strength...

By the way, thanks for sharing those things about pray with us, I loved them.

In the end, may Allah give you whatever you wish and keep you healthy and happy.

I'm back.After my holiday,I come back our big families.I found a amazing thing----it is our post is the most replies and views in this forum.There is 950 replies in one year,it means nearly 3 replies an average day.We exert ourselves and show ourselves not in our native language.It's bravo!Thank you everyone,thank you 2012.

My Friend Behnam,
Thank you for bearing me in your mind. I am still alive, writing from bottom of a well. In fact I have mired in a swamp. I was asked to extend my working scope ,I was transferred to a new office which is far from my home, consider myself as a commuter .of course I receive money more than before . My boss (God destroys his home) ordered me to be in the new office more than before, and I rejected him, so he threaded me by employee of new person and firing me . What was the alternative, I chose the first one , I rejected him and come back home.
But what can I do with my boss at home , She called him and asked him to forgive me and let me come back to work. I came back by force ,bow my head in deathly silent . the last alternative is the gallows robe
Good Luck
Mohsen

Many thanks for giving some information about yourself. You are a creative person. You will be successful in your life. May God give you what you wish(and there is something good for you=خيراً لكم).

Thank you once again for visiting this thread regularly and putting posts in it. Please keep on it and make the thread active. Some challenging topics encourage people to make comments. This leads to serious discussion and challenges. When I was young(before getting married, I was young. Marriage makes a man old. I guess you know the reason. Married man is like a lion in prison! You might have seen that children play with the tail of lions in zoo. Well, when lions are behind the bars(fence) they are not that much dangerous! )

As you can see, I am introducing a challenging topic. I am quite sure that my words will provoke some women to have reactions. They may not put comments, or may put(nobody knows, because they are unpredictable! hehehehe..again... ), but I am sure these words will make their brain cells active for a while.

You are not alone here. My dear friend Mohsen is always ready for serious discussion. I will also join you after the exam.

Welcome back my dear brother and old friend! How are you? I hope you are fine.

You cannot imagine how happy I was when I saw your post. Your sentences made me laugh. Thank you very much for bringing happiness.

It seems your domestic boss is more effective than the other one. As well as you she could have effects on your employer! So wonderful! Your story reminded me something that I'd read in one of the "Jalal Al Ahmad's"(may god bless him!) books. I guess it was "Roshanfekran". I've read it many years ago; maybe 18 years ago! My mother still has got it. He has written something like this in the book: "It is amazing, it always seems mysterious to me that in this area of the world(Third World) women make decision about men's jobs." He has used a bad-worded phrase. I prefer not to write it straightforwards. He believed that women pull strings secretly. Imagine, someone from your wife's family was the manager of a company or was a high-ranked person in a governmental organization. You weren't anxious(worried) about being jobless. The only thing you needed was asking your wife to make a phone call to that famous guy, and then washing his brain with some womanish words. In almost all cases, women's words work!

You are a wise Esfahani man. I am sure, you have used this strategy in coping with the problem. Wise men kill two birds with one stone. They marry to socially effective women(In farsi 'khanevade galle gonde' something like 'big-headed family'. But, I think 'big-headed' is a word-for-word translation. It doesn't mean the thing I am saying. I haven't got dictionary to look it up right now.)

Let me make it a little bit clear, then to make it useful for young boys who may read this post. Every place has got its special language. An individual who wants to be successful in a society must know the language of the society well. In some regions money plays the role of the language. In some of them, big families(famile dom koloft in Farsi) play the role of the language. In some nations, both of them are necessary for someone to achieve his goals. The languages of this part of the globe is two Ps(Pull va Party=money and pulling strings)! A successful man should take these two important factors(languages) into consideration when getting married(It is better to say 'when making friends with girls' since young generations don't know what marriage is! )

It is not fair to forget writing something to you. How are you? I hope you are enjoying every minute of your life.

I do care about you. You are always in my thoughts. How can I forget you? You are one of the most effective people in my life. I do love the friendship we both have established about 5 years ago. I DO care about it. There are many memories in my mind from this wonderful friendship. They will be kept by me forever. Nothing can make me forget them, since they have formed my characteristics. Can I forget myself? Nobody can forget himself/herself. That's a proven fact. I just can say "Thank you for being my friend. I feel proud of you."

I hope our friendship will last forever. After getting married, you may stop writing, emailing, chatting. That's alright. But, I will think of you as a good friend until my dying day. This feeling won't damage your life. I am a religious person. I know what wrong and right is! Therefore, you don't need to worry about anything.

These days you are busy with mathematics, students and teaching. You spend less time on your friends. Recently, you are acting like scientists or philosophers. You put some quotations which give lessons to ordinary people(me included). Thank you very much for teaching. Please go on this rewarding job.

There is nothing to me in your posts. I guess, students are going to delete me out from your life. When I was reading your delightful poems, I got jealous of that effective guy with great impression on you! I really enjoyed reading those wonderful sentences.

Thanks for your recent posts full of energy to all friends. Thanks for remembering me and finding a reason to write to me too; to be fair!

You're post was very kind to me, I really enjoyed reading it. You have always been so kind and gentle to your friends, specially to me. This is me who have to be proud, not you!
Now, after having so many great experiences in friendship with you, you've turned to be so valuableto me.
When we first plant a sapling, it's important for us, we have to take good care of it and provide it with everything it needs (as water, soil, light, food,....) to let it grow well. But after some years when it is a complete fruitful tree, it turns to be so valuable. We love it as we love our family members.After giving it so much care and attention day and night,after providing us with so many benefits,after spending so much time with it, it gets so precious to us!
I'm just explaining it to make it a little more clear what I mean by this word"valuable"! I'm just trying to express what I feel about your friendship and your presence in my life.Your place in my heart is just like my family members'!

Oh Dear, it seems that you had a lot of free time so you could write to us.. Emm, OR, maybe you were tired of study and you wanted to have some time!!! Anyway, please be always on touch with us.

Oh MY GOD! Who is the ordinary person???????!!!!!!! YOU???!!!! Come on! You aren't an ordinary person at all since you are in my mind every minute, isn't enough for being unordinary??!!

Oh dear you can't imagine how happy I was when I saw your post to Elham and Elham's reply too!!! I am very glad in fact. Wish you the best my best friends and I hope you friendship will last forever inshallah...

Behnaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will kill you!!!! Are you sure that there is no post from me to you?????!!!! Emmm

My dirty minded friend, to whom do you think that poem was???!!!
I am sure that you are smart enough to know that it was for you and there is NO guy can leave a great impression on me as you do!

Hi dear friend Behnam ,I want to begin my message with your words:
As soon as you say bye to someone s/he forgets you. Saying goodbye is like closing a window on the computer! Saying bye is like deleting a file.
What a true thought .Unfortunately today is communication day ,but as you implied our understanding of communication is mechanic ,As you said saying goodbye is like a deleting file, I think like you.It is nonsense ,but people behave like that.I m very sad but this is true. I have to accept their unfaitful behaviours as it is. When someone shut the window and delete me , my heart, my soul are filled with hate and sorrow .Hate kills my happiness.At that situations ,I m trying to do my best to overcome it.As you said saying goodbye is like closing a window. Unfortunately ,that s true,I have lots of experiences and feel it deeply.In addition to this , ı always face this kind of behaviours in friendship even with family members . Where are we going dear ? Is it the end of world? As you said LOVE MAKES THE UNIVERSE TURN AROUND, What a wonderful sentences. Dear I appreciate you sincerely thanks to your thoughts, thanks to your heart and I belive that compassion will kills the cruel side of human being.Allah is almight ,if we teslim etmek by heart.
best wishes dear friend it s late but ı want to write something on your message:)
Grincas

What shall I write? How can I show you my feelings now? Right now, my feelings cannot be described by words! Words are really disable to describe it as it is.

A few minutes ago, I opened the mailbox and I saw an email from an old friend. This friend is in Spain. She used to write in the previous 'let's learn together!'. I had nothing from her for about 2 years. Her email surprised me. I was eager and impatient to read it. Then I opened it. Here are some words at the beginning of her email:

Hello my dear lovely easterner friend!!
How are you?? How is life going??
You think your westerner friend Rosa forgot you, im sure you think so, but...thats not true dear. I remember you quite frequently......... You know, my life changed. I married and now Im a MUM!! As im sure you know me, you know that I am veeeeery happy with it. I loved to become a mum, I found the proper man to form a family with and this is what I did. .... i gave birth in october,.....I could see the face of my little baby, my newborn, part of me...and I cried a lot. What a feeling!! My baby is a boy, he is healthy, beautiful, smiling face as his mum... Now, he takes most of my time. Im in motherhood vacancy, i will come back to school next march, and I dont know if I will survive being apart even a few hours...

Some parts of her email have been deleted on purpose. I am crying now. There are tears in my eyes. Oh my God! What an understanding person! This person values humanity and friendship. THIS is the meaning of humanity!

When we were chatting, I used to tell her she is a westerner, then she doesn't care about friendship. I used to say, "Rosa, your materialist philosophy has taken some nice emotions and values from human beings. She used to disagree, as you can see the greeting of her email is addressing this matter clearly. Her third sentence again mentions to this matter. Anyway, I am very, very, very happy now.

For people who don't know about Rosa I should say she is an English teacher in Spain. She teaches English at school. Many years ago, when she was preparing for her job entry exam, I helped her with English. If you see some errors in her sentences, it is because of using mobile phone on the one hand, and being away from English for a quite long time, on the other hand. It is also an informal friendly email. Her English is excellent.

I wanted to share my happiness with you. I don't know whether I am right or wrong with copying and pasting some parts of her email in this place. However, I wanted to give some indirect lessons to my old friends who left me without leaving footprints. What they did is the exact meaning of cruelty.

Wow! What a great news! Thanks for sharing Rosa's mail with us, it made me very happy! Congratulation dear Rosa!
I wish her the best and I really wish in the future she had some free time to write here and tell us about her experience...

Dear, you are unforgetable friend so I am sure that your old friends haven't forgot you but maybe there are somethings which prevents them from being in touch... Look, I am not claiming that they aren't cruel or wrong but whatever I am saying is to give them an excuse.
For sure you are in their hearts. Well, maybe you would say bieng in their hearts isn't enough. It isn't! But believe me it's better than forgetting all about you.

Dear, I really wanted to discuss this thing with you more but forgive me I am not in a good mood for that... Today my father went for his work as usual but he returned immediately because they told him that the terrorists yesterday attacked the place.
Is killing innocent employees called freedom or set us free???!!!!! What a fake freedom!!!

Please dear, ask god to keep my father safe cause we can't live without him...
I don't want to speak more about politics things so I will end my post.

Welcome to this thread! Many thanks for joining us. Your post made me extremely happy.

First of all, I'd like to introduce you to my friends. I wish you had written something about yourself. In your next post, please write something about yourself.

Dear friends, Shahrbanu is a very kind and polite lady from Turkey. I met her in the chat room on Englishclub. You all know that I am very careful when it comes to making friends with people. My friends are special. Therefore, Shahrbanu is also an especial person with great personality. I've found her so kind and affective that I asked her to join us in this place. She has accepted my request. Fortunately, she is with us now. I hope we will have lasting friendship with together.

You may find her first post a little bit different. It should be said that her post is written in replying to a message that I'd recently sent her through Englishclub.

Dear Shahrbanu, now let me tell you something about friends in this place. As you can see from couple of pages, many people have participated in putting comment or post here. Some of them are regular post writers. I am going to write something about them. I hope they will introduce themselves as complete as possible.

Dear Elham is an Iranian kind and wise girl. She is an active friend. As her posts imply, she is an emotional golden-hearted person. I am sure you have many things in common with Elham. Talking with Elham will make you calm and relaxed.

Dear Amal is a Syrian soft-hearted girl. She is kind and easygoing. She is sweet-tempered. Talking with her will remove your sadness. In fact, she is a sadness remover!

Dear Mohsen is an Iranian clever man. He is creative and supportive. He is polite and loyal. He is a reliable person.

Dear Nana is a Chinese lady. As all Chinese people, she is sweet and friendly. She values friendship.

Dear Wael is a Syrian man. He is mathematician. He has got a wonderful personality. He is polite and good-tempered. He is perfect at poems.

Dear Shahrbanu, there are other people in the thread. Some of them only read our posts. Some others make comments in case they are in the mood for writing. Don't worry! You will get the hang of this place soon. You should know that we have been writing in 'Let's learn together!' for 5 years! Do you believe it? Yes, we have started writing in 2007(December) on http://WWW.English-at-home.com. For some reasons, we had to leave that site. Thanks to the great attempts and efforts of dear Elham, the result of our activities on that site has become 4 pdf files which are uploaded on http://WWW.scribd.com. If you go to that site and search for 'Let's learn together', you may find them.

Dear Shahrbanu, Please share something with us whenever you have time. If you were looking somewhere to empty your heart, this thread is a right one. In this place, we are not interested in politics and religion. Other topics; no matter how challenging they are, are always welcomed.

I wish you happy moments in this thread. I hope to read more from you.

I got very happy hearing about Rosa's news. I always was happy that she was a member of our group and enjoyed her posts a lot. I wish she hadn't left us that way. Anyway I hope this beautiful lovely woman a great happy life beside her family.

I also miss dear Veronica.She seems to be in the New-York now. She had put message for me and sent all friends kiss and hug.
It's so sad that such lovely women ( Veronica, Marina,Rosa, and that Italian lady whose name I don't remember!) left us. I loved all of them very very much.I wish we could have the same old friendly gathering we used to have!
I really enjoyed their presence and words.Women truly resemble sweet-smelling flowers, they make life beautiful. I am sure not only men, but also women themselves get energy from pleasant sweet AND calming presence of these flowers! Wowwwwwww, I'm a fresh nice flower too,aooooooooooooooooh

A grammar rule which says that the superlative of adjectives goes with the definite article "The". Thus a question like this would be incorrect: "Is there a best school around here?" Instead, we would ask: "Is there a good school?'' and then " Which is the best school?"

Yes,after marriage,I have to change.I become a diligent housekeeper.Because the chinese lunar New Year is coming,I had to wipe the windows ,mop the floor, sweep the ceiling.At true, all of this work was done by my mother before.Now I joined in a new family,I take place of the character of my mother in her family.Besides this,I had to face many bills such as water and electricity,property management fee and so on.My wallet is reducing.The import thing is to giving red envelopes to children when you marry is a Chinese tradition for lunar New Year.This year is the first year that I give red envelopes to children of my relatives ,my friends,my colleague.You can guess,my one month salary disappear again.Everything made me scorched by the flames.

I hope your everything is good.Though you don't like your new office,you should learn to accept it.2013 is a new year which is a year all of us spent the doomsday safely .We have healthy body,family, friends and work.Those are lucky things.Please cherish our life.

hi dear friends ,I m the new member of this thread. I m from Turkey and I m trying to be a teacher.My first message seems quite different:) sorry for that. I really want to share something and learn something from you. I need to revise my English ,so I find this thread very helpful. I will be happy ,if you welcome me. I need your suggests and advices ...

I hope everything is going well with you. One week break , relax because of university holiday, enjoy it.
Don't fancy that that a rich family is behind my wife, the story is that my boss and I were living in a neighbour for some years. We rarely had intercourse for some times. So we know each other well.
Be sure that men never let women make decision about men's domain. But it is a good strategy that sometimes men hid behind the women, in fact it is a policy for a man who is in predicament.
Man is intolerant ,so a woman can play her role.
Of course I don't suggest my wife for such a work ,but if she insists on it ,or do it hiddenly ,I don't object her .
Good Luck,
Mohsen

Welcome to this place! Thank you very much for sharing a useful grammar point with us. We are some learners from different countries and we are learning English through writing and reading. We would be happy if we could have you in our community. Writing has helped me learn grammar and spelling. In fact, effective writing needs using correct structures. When people care about the grammar of English in their writings, they learn it; because 'practice makes perfect'.

Would you please give us some information about yourself? I hope to hear more from you.

Welcome to this thread! Thank you very much for joining us. As I wrote to Trinti, we are some learners and we take every opportunity to improve our English. Therefore, people who have some experience in teaching or learning English can be very useful for us. We appreciate your presence in this place and are ready to learn from your posts. In particular, I am sitting for an important exam in March. One the exam modules is English. In that module, the majority of questions are either directly or indirectly related to vocabulary. I am terrible at memorizing new words. I forget them easily. Many years ago, I studied '504 Absolutely Essential Words', which is a famous book when it comes to practising vocabulary. However, as a nice English proverb says 'you lose it if you don't use it'; I lost what I learned. I am working on that book again. Right now, it is open on the desk. Any advice on making the range of vocabulary large, and most importantly, keeping them in mind? You may say, "well, use them!", but how? They are some strange words. Even native English speakers don't use them in their everyday conversations!

Thank you very much for encouraging me , yes I have healthy body and good friends , so I am sure that I will have a promising future ,it is not a compliment ,it is a fact that when we have a healthy body ,decent family and good friends we have happiness and well-fare.
My criticism was against lack of time for living , because I think that working is the vain time that doesn't count a life.
Happy new year to you , I know that from 2/2/2013 the China in holiday for two weeks. Hope you enjoy your holiday.
Dear Nana , how much is the price of gold in China ? In Iran it is a custom that when the couple want to marry , bridegroom should buy a set gold for the groom. At present it is a big problem for the young people who want to marry . do you have such a custom in China?
Good Luck,
Mohsen

Hi and welcome to this forum , It is a good idea to improve your English , in fact all people in this forum have the similar goal , We can extend our abilities in English writing skills by writing to each other .

Many people prefer to write about culture and their own country . My country is I R of Iran with 75000000 population , We are speaking Farsi ( Persian) , the people of Iran are Muslim , Iran history return 2500 years ago and we have a lot of historical places which attract many tourists from all over the world to visit there.

Iran is also rich in oil and Gas , there are many oil well in south and south west of Iran ,also there are many oil rigs in Persian Gulf which are belong to Iran.
Please write about yourself and your country.

WELCOME to this thread! Thank you for joining us. I am sure, we will help each other learn many things. I believe, Learning English is one of the benefits of this community. I've learned many many things from my friends. In my opinion, every person is a book. If we read them, we will learn some interesting things from them. The most important matter is reading(=making friendship and keeping it). I am not boasting, but I can claim that I am good at keeping friendship.

It's so nice to meet new friends from different countries. Please write more about your traditions and customs.

Dear Mohsen had written about his country "Iran" so I am going to write about mine "Syria"...

Syria is a country in Western Asia covers an area of 185,180 km2. Syria's neighboring countries are Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon. It consists of 14 provinces and the capital is Damascus which is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.

Syria has a traditional society with a long cultural history. Importance is placed on family, religion, education and self-discipline and respect. The Syrians are very kind, peaceful and helpful people. In Syria there was the first alphabet by The Phoenicians which discovered in Ugarit (modern Ras-Shamra)..

the climate in Syria is mild and the nature is wonderful. there are a lot of different magical places. For example, the northwest part is bordering the Mediterranean and it's full of green areas and mountains, in the northeast of the country you can enjoy the beauty of the desert. On the other hand, there are a lot of famous historical places which Tourists from all over the world come to see.
I really recommend you to visit Syria because it's one of the wonderful places in the world.

Thank you for reply.Yes,we will have a Chinese New Year holiday which is a important festival for all of chinese.Many people who work in the other place will come back their country in any case .As a result,there are many many people in the train ,in the air,in the bus.This is a migrate which is called "spring move".I have only a week not two weeks.It is from Feb 9 to Feb 15.

As you talk about the gold problem,there is a different custom in China.In the south of China,especially in Guangdong and Hongkongk,bridegroom only buy a gold or PT ring for the groom.The bridegroom's mother will buy a gold bracelet ,a gold necklace and a gold ring for the groom.What is the custom in Iran?

Dear Nana,
Hope you enjoy your holiday , do you eat different kind of pastries ,cookies, cakes and chocolates during your holiday ?

One of the Iranian 's custom is meeting their relatives during the new year holiday and eating sweet things ,nuts at the home.

The custom of marriage in Iran is different , but generally when bridegroom and bride go to the market ,the bridegroom should buy a set of gold for the bride ,a box which contains ring ,necklace, bracelet and ear ring ,also he buys different dresses , shoes.
In my city bridegroom buys shoe for all members of bride's family.
One night the bridegroom's family goes to the bride's home and deliver all of the things ,gold , shoes, dresses , to the bride in special ceremony.
B.Wishes
Mohsen

A big hello to all my dear friends posting here. I hope that everyone is doing fine. Actually it has been a long time since I had to quit writing here. I do not know what to write now and how to start, so you might want to take my sincere apologies into consideration if I seem so lame

The first time I posted something here there were few people writing, but now I see there are a lot of English maniacs (no offense, it is a friendly adjective ) who want to write and improve their skills. I really envy the ones who used to write here while I could not and that I guess I missed a lot of happy and sad moments here among my loveliest friends.

Oh did I just do it? Did I started? I cannot believe it. I am writing this post to say that I want to be in from now on, and to write whenever I had access to this www!

Hiiii there. How are you doing ostad? How is everything with you? Do you know how much I have missed writing to you? Do you know how much I have missed those days that I could regularly write in here?

How is the family? Now you are the Big Daddy Big congratulations again. I know the kids would be great scientists, I see it from here!

You know the reason I could not write, well the guess what? I passed konkuuuuuur LOL but hopefully just passed! I do not really know about the results. omumi part was normal, ekhtesasi was too meticulous. The only thing that makes me happy is that I am sure I tried my best and never was lazy this year. Whenever I found time, I tried to study. You know that I really want this by all my heart and I have tried, the rest is with God to help!
Oh and I am also prepared for any tragic consequences. I have thought of trying looking for a job in an institute if I had to study for another year, so...uhhh hard to say anything about future, ey?

So how is everything with you? I have just started reading novels and articles all over again. This is really my very best hobby in this tiny dormitory.

Before writing to you I could think of a gazillion topics to write about but now...my mind just slipped LOL

Hope you are doing well,
I think that each custom has a root in the history, but I really don't know why some customs were generated. When the boy as bridegroom buys some pairs of shoes for his wife , his wife's mother , his wife ground mother , his wife's sisters, he wants to offer his respect to his wife's family . he loves his wife , he loves his wife family , so he presents them the gift. You know when people love someone, they show their love by giving, flowers and gift.
I don't like to follow the predecessors. I bought a VCD radio tape recorder as gift to my wife's mother, and a camera for my wife's sister, her grandmother had been died ,God blesses her

How are you? I hope all is going well with you. Welcome back to your own home! Thank you for keeping the friendship going. That's very kind of you.

Oh, congratulations! You have taken Master Exam! I am sure you will be successful. You have tried your best. It is said that trying hard is the secret key of all success.Therefore, you will pass the exam successfully. Where are you going to study MA?

As you may know, on 18th Esfand( in 7th or 8th of March. Maybe none of them! hehehehe, I haven't checked!) I am sitting for PhD exam. One the modules is 'The English Language'. I have not studied for it. I've focused on my professional subjects which are directly related to Physics.

What should I do with English? How can I prepare myself for the exam? Have you got any suggestions? How can you help me(as an English student, you are supposed to help me, aren't you?)

I am not sure, but according to some friends who have taken the PhD exam in previous years, the English module includes 20 questions about grammar and structure; 20 questions about vocabulary, 20 questions about reading passages,...( 100 questions I guess! WOW, I am not sure about the distribution of questions and the number! I haven't checked the modules yet.!!!)

Oh, tonight, I am going to have a glimpse at the module. Almost all the friends, who have already sat for PhD exam, are complaining about the difficulty of questions! Someone said he couldn't find some of the words even in dictionaries! Oh my God! As everybody knows, a language is like an ocean; deep, wide and vast. Learning a language is like scanning an ocean with a needle. How can we do that? It is really impossible!

Anyway, it seems some silly people are making decision about the method of testing and the sort of questions. I always say to my students; "Surely, I am going to see what you have learned or what you know. There is no need to check what you don't know. If Someone checks to find out what we don't know, he/she will find a lot. Testing people is like analyzing their characteristics. If you look for some dirt(weaknesses) you will find a lot. So, we should look for goodness, although it is scarce." In other words, the philosophy of exams is seeing what the learners have learned. However, apparently, everything is upside down in this part of the globe! Hehehehe...

After this criticism, I think I should tell you quite straightforwardly that I need your help. I don't know how! You MUST help me! This is one of the basic rules of friendship.

I am waiting for you suggestions and advice. I hope I will receive the reply of this post earlier than 18th ESfand.

Pleasure to meet your post, as you said you haven't time to be here because you were studying for entrance university exam , I hope you receive a good grade and continue you studying for M.A. What is the major you'v chosen for M.A.?
You are right I am an English maniac, but many things distracted my mind, one day I forget my home phone No. I should be checked up for Alzheimer. I don't know is it common someone forgets his home phone No.or post Code? I lose my confidence when I see my situation. So much ID and password , and 20 Bank Cards, petrol Card, National ID Card, Shop card , Guarantee Cards….so on. Electronic life.
Have you ever forgot your close friend's name , your home No.?

Hi honey, as always I read your posts eagerly and excitedly. I know always that Kami has so many sweet lovable stuff in her writings that I enjoy a lot!

Congratulations honey on making your best attempt for the exam.In my opinion,nothing is more enjoyable and valuable than finding out one's interest and trying best to be good at it! Having known your interest in life and working hardly on it, you are definitely on the right track! Congratulations dear Kami.

Thanks for your lovely presence and spreading such pleasant smell in the atmosphere of the thread. Hope to hear from you a loooooooooot more.

Many thanks for your explanation, your gifts were really good , good choice!

Here in Damascus we don't have such custom, the bridegroom just buy a set of gold -of course its value depend on how rich he is or what the bride's family wants!-

Most of the times when the bridegroom comes to visit his bride at her father's home, he brings gifts for HER only "maybe he does that just to show her how generous and romantic he is, but of course all that disappears after marriage!" Why do you think??!! Do you think that he is fooling her?!

How are you? I hope your life is filled with joy and happiness. Thank you for your friendly message. Happy Valentin's Day to YOU too!

There is a fountain pen in my shirt pocket; always filled with Royal Blue German Pelikan ink! Its colour is violet. The colour attracts people's attention. Many friends of mine have tried to take it, but I never give this pen to anybody! I love it and its colour very much. The brand is Parker; a very famous one.

I guess it was 7 years ago; in November 2006, I entered the virtual world(=the Net) in order to practise English. I clearly remember the first person who sent me PM(private message) when I was in a chat room. Good old days!

Those two small stories told you to make this conclusion: Time goes, everything goes, we also go, but love and kindness are everlasting!

There is something special about me; being always available for friends. Some people don't care about others. I always say to my friends that even solid things have feelings. But, some people are so cruel. They don't care about human rights! They impose emotional sanction on others! hehehehehe...

Have some feelings instead of speaking about its price! Man narahat nemisham, but speaking about price is not dar shane you! Hehehehehe...

Man ke hamishe injam(I am always here, easily available)!

By the way, you should know, women are more emotional(then kinder) than men. Taking this factor into consideration you will find me a different man, more emotional than other men.

I have three precious books in my bookshelf. I love them so much. They are valuable to me not for they are expensive but for they are gifted to me by a very lovely friend. First pages of the books are covered by a very wonderful handwriting and the comments are written by a fountain pen!
Through lines I read kindness and affection of the writer. Definitely the writer has a heart of gold. Reading comments, I'm always filled with joy and feel proud of my awesome friend.